The drought stress tolerance of physic nut (Jatropha curcas Linn.) genotypes

Physic nut (Jatropha curcas Linn.) is one of tropical plant that has a potential as an
alternative energy source. This study aimed at finding out the drought tolerance level of six
genotypes of J.curcas based on the morphology and production of the first harvest time. The
plant was treated under a condition of 100 %, 70 % and 40 % field capacity. The tested
genotypes were 5-1-14 (SP8 × SP16), 6-2-10 (SP8 × SP38), 7-2-8 (SP33 × HS49), 18-1-14
(SM35 × SP38), IP3A and IP3P. The drought stress of 40 % ground water inhibited the plant
vegetative and generative growth (the amount of leaves, male flower, carpel, hermaphrodite
flower and the percentage of formed fruit) while at the same time it tended to reduce the
amount of fruit and the seeds’ dry weight. The level of drought that reached 70 % resulted in
the reduce of seeds’ dry weigh up to 87.76 % and upon 40 % of drought level, the seeds’ dry
level was reduced nearly to 97.92 %. At 40 % moisture content, the highest percentage of fruit
formation is achieved by genotypes 5-1-14 and 6-2-10.